Method and apparatus for the production of handled shopping bags



Dec. 2, 1969 A. w. HAYES 3,481,256

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HANDLED SHOPPING BAGS FiledAug. 29, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y INVENTOR nprm/k w. 664/6:

T0 BAG TUBE, TUBE- ssvsnmcw AND BOTTOM FORMING s'm'rlonls ATTORN EYS 7BY V Dec. 2, 19 9 A.' w. HAYES 3,481,256

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HANDLED SHOPPING BAGS FiledAug. 29, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Dec. 2, 1969 A. w. HAYES3,481,256

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HANDLED SHOPPING BAGS FiledAug. 29, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet s mp h F/a. 7. WW 9 ATTORNEY-S Dec. 2, 1969A. w. HAYES 1 3,481,256

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HANDLED SHOPPING BAGS FiledAug. 29, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 9.

' H2 66 Ya I INVENTOR HPTHUQ w. awn 5 wild ATTORNEYS Dec. 2, 1969 w.HAYES 3,481,256 I METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HANDLEDSHOPPING BAGS Filed Aug. 29, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. I F/G. i4.

86 INVENTOR men/me n1. H4 yes BY ,5, JM Q W M ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent F Int. Cl. B31b 1/86 US. Cl. 938 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE An improved method and apparatus is provided for theproduction of shopping or carrier bags having looped handles of cord orother suitable materials all of which are intended to be hereinafterembraced by the term cord. The looped handles are secured by means of apatch to a paper bag web which is eventually formed into the desiredshopping bag. The paper bag web and the web of patch material is fed ina substantially timed and continuous manner. A length of the handle cordis formed into the selected handle configuration and connected to thepaper bag web by means of a severed patch all entering the assemblystation in a timed and synchronized manner. A

In the production of shopping bags of the handled variety, it iscustomary to secure the ends of the cord handle between or on the bagmaterial and a reinforcing patch adhesively secured to the top of thebag. Typical prior art techniques and apparatus initially assembled thereinforcing patch and the handle as a unit and then subsequently appliedthis unit to the bag-making material. A separate drum or cylinder isused in such apparatus to receive and then supply the assembled patchand handle cord unit to the bag-making material. In addition, it wasgeneral practice to feed the patch-forming web of paper at approximatelyright angles to the bag-forming web thereby necessitating theassociation of the patch at a relatively precise point across the mainweb of paper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to providefor the feeding of the handle cord and reinforcing patch essentiallysimultaneously but independently onto the main web of paper from whichthe carrier bag is made thereby minimizing the number of parts requiredto accomplish this association particularly the use of any rotatabledrum or cylinder typified by the prior art on which the reinforcingpatches and the handle cords are fed as a unit for final application tothe main paper web.

Another object is to apply adhesive to selected locations on the mainweb of paper as well as the reinforcing patch paper in such a mannerthat when the reinforcing paper and the main web come together, theypinch the handle cord between the adhesive on the main paper web andreinforcing paper thereby providing adhesion with the handle cord oroptimum magnitude; and, in addition, the travel of the paper bag web andreinforcing patches are essentially in the same direction as is the casewith the handle cord immediately prior to application to the paper webthereby assisting in the obtainment of maximum output and more efficientoperation.

Briefly stated, the handle bagmanufacturing method, according to thisinvention, provides for the feeding of reinforcing patch paper and thehandle cord as separate units onto the main paper bag web. Immediatelyprior to contact with the main paper web, the reinforcing patch web iscut following an adhesive application to thereby provide predeterminedlength reinforcing patches severed from the continuous relatively narrowreinforcing patch Patented Dec. 2, 1969 web. The adhesive applied to thereinforcing patch web 1s m' the form of spaced continuous adhesive gumlines such that when the cut patch is placed in contact with the paperweb simultaneously with the handle cord, adhesion on both sides of thelegs of the U-shaped handle is obtained.

Apparatus for carrying out the proposed method includes separate feedingmechanism for the main paper bag web, reinforcing patch web and handlecords all of which are operated simultaneously to join a patch andhandle cord at substantially the same time to the main bag web. Theadhesive applied to both the patch and bag web for purposes of securingtherebetween the handle cords is of sufiicient strength to adequatelyhold the cord handle during the subsequent carrier bag forming sta tionsat which the main paper web is formed into a tube which is theneventually cut and scored and folded into the desired bag configuration.

The handle cord is fed from a continuous reel of the cord in atransverse direction with respect to the feed of the main paper bag web.Cutting mechanism then cuts the cord into the selected length for theindividual handles through a mechanical action which folds the lengthsinto the shape of a U or D, where desired, with the cut ends of the Ueventually being inserted between the main web ofpaper and the narrowreinforcing patch which are all joined simultaneously.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdetailed description which is to be taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings illustrating the somewhat preferred embodiment ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the carrier bagmachine proposed by this invention and the general manner in which thecarrier bag-making method is performed;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the handle cord gripping andsevering station showing also the feed of the main paper bag web andreinforcing patches;

FIG. 3 is a similar perspective view showing the folding and formationof the U-shaped cord handles;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the simultaneous associationof the handles and reinforcing patches with the main paper bag web;

FIG. 5 is a similar perspective view showing the assembled handles andpatches on the main paper bag web;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view from the top portion of theultimately formed carrier bag showing the disposition of the handles andreinforcing patches;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged end elevational view of the cord cutting andforming mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of this mechanism;

' FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 7 showingthe introduction of the U-shaped handle cord between the reinforcingpatch and main paper web;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the parts illustrated in FIG. 9 withcertain of these parts broken away for clarity and with the cord handlebeing shown by way of phantom in its intermediate folded position;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 9 showing thedisposition of parts immediately prior to the gripping and severing ofpredetermined lengths from the cord web;

FIG. 12 is a view of these parts taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an elevational view illustrating the manner in which the webof cord is held taut immediately prior to the cutting of predeterminedlengths thereof;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the cutting blades immediately prior tothe cutting of these predetermined lengths; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view illustrating the disposition of thefolding disks at substantially the same time preceding the cutting ofthe lengths of cord from the cord web.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings, a carrierbag-making machine 20 is shown and includes a main paper bag Web feedingmechanism 22, a reinforcing patch feeding mechanism 24, a handle cordfeeding, severing and folding mechanism 25 all of which are operablesimultaneously to cause the assembly of U-shaped handles and reinforcingpatches on the paper web in a single operation. The assembled parts arethen fed through further stations of the machine 20 at which the mainpaper web is formed into a tube which is subsequently cut and formedwith the selected bag bottom and with the upper end of the bag assumingessentially the form illustrated in FIG. 6.

Referring initially to the main paper bag web feeding mechanism 22, itwill be appreciated that a web 26 of the selected paper for the carrierbag is suitably fed and guided from the usual paper roll 28. In thisconnection, the web 26 is passed over guide rollers 30, 32 and 34 andeventually over the main feeding drum 36. Prior to this, the web 26 isperforated at the perforating station 38 at predetermined intervals andin synchronization with the travel of the web 26 to provide the alignedand spaced perforations 40 and 42. A handle pasting station 44 alsooperable in timed relation with the travel of the web 26 serves to applyspaced patches of glue 45 and 46 at each of the perforations 40 and 42as most clearly illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the reinforcing patch feeding mechanism 24, acontinuous web 48 of the selected reinforcing patch material is suitablyfed and guided from a patch supply roll 50, a patch feeding mechanism 24and web 48 being incorporated for each of the two bag handles eventuallyformed. Inasmuch as each of the reinforcing patch feeding mechanisms areidentical and operable simultaneously and in unison, correspondingnumerals will be applied to like parts. The web of patch material issuitably guided over rolls 52, 54, 56, 58 and fed through the patchcutting station 60' operable in timed relation with respect to thetravel of the patch web 48. The cut patch 62 is fed between the pair offeed rollers 64 and 66 into association with the paper web 26 and handlecords in a manner to be described in detail shortly. A patch glueingstation 68 is operable to provide continuous strips of adhesive to eachof the webs; and, as shown in FIG. 2, four of such spaced adhesivestrips 68, 70, 72 and 74 may be applied. The feed roll 66, under thesecircumstances, will comprise a series of spaced wheels, notably three innumber, which will contact the patch 62 between the adhesive strips. Asecond set of rollers 76 and 78 traveling at the same surface speed asthe main feed drum 36, which is slightly faster than the travel of theweb 48, will cooperate, under these circumstances, in severing the patch62 from the web by tearing along the relatively small uncut sectionsillustrated in FIG. 2. As was the case with roller 66, the roller 78will also include three spaced wheels that engage the patch 62 betweenthe strips of adhesive. A guide 80 adapted to contact the patch 62between the adhesive strips thereon operates to turn and guide thesevered patch 62 and direct its travel along the same path as the movingmain paper web 26. As will be explained in detail shortly, the patches62 are adapted to 'be associated with the main paper web 26 essentiallyat the same time as the 'U-shaped handle cords are applied thereto; and,in this regard, the patches 62 will be applied forwardly of theassociated score line 40 or 42, as the case may be, such that thetrailing end of the particular 4 patch is aligned and adjacent to thisscore line. (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

The cord feeding, severing and folding mechanism 25 operates to feed theleading end 82 of a roll or reel (not shown) of cord suitable forformation of handles or, for that matter, any other handle formingmaterial employed in the art including elongated and relatively narrowstrip material. The leading end 82 of the cord and particularly apredetermined length thereof is fed incrementally and in timed relationwith respect to the movement of the main paper web 26. Accordingly, thispredetermined length 84 is fed transversely of the feed of the mainpaper web 26 and at the start of this feeding cycle, the leading end 82is grasped by the clamping arm 86 projecting from a chain 88 supportedby the wheels 90, 92 and 94 and is driven in synchronization with thedrive of the main paper web 26. The clamping of the leading end 82 ofthe cord is simply accomplished by pinching this end between theclamping arm 86 and the opposed surfaces of the chain which will occursubstantially automatically as this arm approaches the low point oftravel as the chain rotates in a counterclockwise direction as view inFIG. 13. Throughout the entire length at which the arm 86 is at this lowpath of travel, it will firmly grasp the leading end 82 of the cord. Asthis arm starts to move upwardly about the wheel 94, the leading end 82of the cord will be released. However, prior to this occurrence, thecord will have been severed into predetermined shorter handle lengths 96and 98 following which the handle folding cycle immediately commences.

Upon the feeding of a predetermined length 84 of the cord, this lengthwill be held substantially taut by the gripping arm 86 and the brakingmechanism incorporated internally of the cord feeder from the cord reel.A pair of rotary knives 100 and 102, having their respective cuttingedges 104 and 106 rotated to the cord cutting position, operate tosever the predetermined length 84 from the main supply of the cord aswell as sever this length into the shorter lengths 96 and 98. The knives100' and 102 cooperate with disks 108 and 110, respectively, to performthe desired cutting operation. The operation of the knives 100 and 102are, of course, synchronized with the feed of the cord length 84 andtravel of the mainpaper web 26.

Immediately thereafter and as represented by the comparison made betweenFIG. 15 and FIG. 14, the severed lengths of cord 96 and 98 are engagedintermediate their respective ends and folded into the desiredconfiguration which, in the present embodiment, is essentially U-shaped.Considering the folding cycle of one of the cord lengths 96, bearing inmind that the same holds true for the other cord length 98, a pair offolding disks 112 and 114 cooperate with the respective associated disks116 and 118 to grasp the particular cord length 96 to start the foldingcycle. The rotation of these disks are again synchronized with themovement of the web 26; and such movement will be such that the upperdisks have a surface speed slightly more than the lower disks whereuponthe length of cord 96 will be folded into a U-shaped configuration. Uponcompletion of the formation of the U configuration, the legs 120 and 122will begin contact with the spaced adhesive patches 45 and 46 on themain paper web 26. Substantially simultaneously with this encounter, thereinforcing patch 62 will come in contact with both the legs 120 and 122of the U-shaped handle as well as the main paper web 26. Thisassociation is illustrated in FIG. 4, the completion of which isillustrated in FIG. 5.

Where necessary, a network of wires 123a, 1231) and 1230 can be employedto assure the desired forwardly projecting position of each leg of theU-shaped handle. These wires will, in other words, prevent the legs fromprojecting outwardly at an acute angle with respect to the path oftravel of the main paper web 26.

As will be observed in FIG. 9, the base of the U of the handle will bereleased by the associated disks 112 and 116 as will be similarly thecase with the other associated and cooperating disks.

Following this assembly of parts, the main paper web 26 is fed passed apressure wheel applying station 124 which serves to place the assembledparts into intimate relationship and, at the same time, spreads theadhesive together with the legs 120 and 122 of the U to provide a widerarea over which the adhesive acts.

The main paper web 26 will then be passed through the remaining stationsof the carrier bag forming machine. These stations will includemechanism for forming the web into a tube, severing it intopredetermined lengths such that the handles 96 and 98 will projectupwardly from one end of the cut tubes, with the reinforcing patches 62located interiorly of the tube. The other end of the severed tube willthen be passed through a typical bag bottom forming mechanism which willplace the desired bag bottom on the severed length of tube.

The sequence of operation in forming and applying the U-shaped handlesis repeated with the end 82 of the cord being picked up by anothergripping arm 86 as the preceding length of cord 84 is engaged by thedisks 112, 114, 11-6 and 118. The next cord handles are then formed andapplied to the next succeeding reinforcing patches 62 and adhesivepatches 45 and 46 appearing on the main paper bag web 26. In thisconnection, the perforations 40 and 42 are spaced from both thepreceding and succeeding perforations by a distance corresponding withthe length of the finished carrier bag together with that amount ofmaterial required to form the selected bag bottom.

In accordance with another contemplated embodiment of this invention,the spaced pair of reinforcing patch webs 48 may be replaced by a singleand continuous web of sufficient width to cover the two handles 96 and98 or, for that matter, wide enough to be placed across the interior ofthe top of the carrier bag.

Thus, it will be evident that the aforenoted objects and advantages aremost effectively attained. The simultaneous feeding of the main paperWeb 26, the handles 96 and 98 together with the reinforcing patches 62together and in the same direction and assembling these partssubstantially simultaneously as a unit provides for an eflicientapparatus and method of forming an acceptable carrier bag employing aminimum number of machine parts and method steps.

Although several somewhat preferred embodiments of the invention havebeen disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understoodthat this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is tobe determined by that of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of producing carrier bags having handles cornpnsmg:

feeding a first web of bag-making material in a substantial continuousmanner; guiding said first web while being fed along a predeterminedpath of travel;

feeding a second web of reinforcing patch material in a substantiallycontinuous manner and in synchronism with the feed of said first web;

guiding said second web while being fed along a predetermined path oftravel;

severing a patch from said second web;

feeding elongated handle material in a manner related to the feed ofsaid first web;

forming said handle material into at least one length having a selectedhandle configuration;

connecting said first web, patch and handle length together andsubstantially at the same time;

and then fonming bags of predetermined length with closed bottoms andopen tops with said handle length extending outwardly from the open end,

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first web ofmaterial is perforated transversely and intermediate its side edges atpredetermined lengths which determine the length of bag-making materialfrom which the carrier bag is formed; applying a patch of adhesive onthe bag-making material on the leading side of the perforation; andapplying portions of the handle length and the reinforcing patch overthe adhesive patch.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein a continuousadhesive pattern is applied to the second web and the adhesive of thereinforcing patch is placed into contact with the adhesive patch on thefirst web with the portions of the handle length interposedtherebetween.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein the elongated handlematerial is fed initially in a transverse direction relative to the feedof the first web and upon the feed of two handle lengths of the handlematerial, stopping the feed of the handle material; severing the handlematerial into the two lengths; and immediately thereafter forming eachlength into a substantially U- shaped configuration with the legs of theU extending in the direction of the feed of the first web and thereafterintroducing the legs of the U between the first web and the patch.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein two webs of thereinforcing patch material are fed, one web for each handle and thefirst web is perforated transversely at two locations intermediate theside edges thereof and two patches of adhesive are applied to the firstweb along the leading edge of each perforation for cooperating insecuring the handles between the first web and the reinforcing patches.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the elongated handlematerial is fed initially in a transverse direction relative to the feedof the first web and upon the feed of two handle lengths of the handlematerial, stopping the feed of the handle material; severing the handlematerial into the two lengths; and immediately thereafter forming eachlength into a substantially U- shaped configuration with the legs of theU extending in the direction of the feed of the first web and thereafterintroducing the legs of the U between the first web and the patch.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 6 wherein two webs of thereinforcing patch material are fed, one web for each handle and thefirst web is perforated transversely at two locations intermediate theside edges thereof and two patches of adhesive are applied to the firstweb along the leading edge of each perforation for cooperating insecuring the handles between the first web and the reinforcing patches.

8. Apparatus for producing carrier bags having handles comprising:

a first feed means for feeding a first web of bag-making material in asubstantially continuous manner;

guide means for guiding the first web while being fed along apredetermined path of travel;

a second feed means for feeding a second web of reinforcing patchmaterial in a substantially continuous manner and in synchronism withthe feed of said first web;

guide means for guiding said second web while being fed along apredetermined path of travel;

cutting means for severing a patch from said second web;

a third feed means for feeding elongated handle material in a mannerrelated to the feed of said first web;

forming means for forming said handle material into at least one lengthhaving a selected handle configuration;

synchronization means for synchronizing the feed of the first web,second web and handle length so that the reinforcing patch and handlelength are assembled on the first web at the same time independently andtogether;

adhesive means for applying adhesive on at least one of said first andsecond webs and at predetermined locations thereon for securing portionsof the handle length between the patch and first web;

and means for forming the first web into a tube and severing the tube atpredetermined intervals and then forming a bag bottom at one end of thesevered length of tube with said handle length extending outwardly fromthe open end.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 8 wherein perforating meansare disposed along the path of travel of said first Web for perforatingsaid first web at preselected intervals intermediate the side edges ofsaid first web, the space between said perforations determining thelength of web required for forming the bag, said adhesive meansincluding a first adhesive applicator disposed along the path of travelof said first web for applying adhesive to said first web on the leadingside of the perforation.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein said adhesive meansincludes a second adhesive applicator disposed along the path of travelof the second web for applying a predetermined pattern of adhesivethereon.

11. The invention in accordance with claim 10 wherein said third feedingmeans is operable to feed two of the lengths of handle material in adirection transversely of the direction of feed of the first web,cutting means are provided for severing the two lengths of handlematerial, and two of said forming means for forming a handle length intoa substantially U-shaped configuration with the legs of the U extendingin the direction of travel of the first web, said forming means beingoperable to interpose the legs of the U-shaped length between said firstmember and a reinforcing patch.

12. The invention in accordance with claim 11 wherein two of said secondweb feeding means are provided and two of said cutting means areassociated therewith for severing patches therefrom for producing apatch for each of the two handle lengths secured to the first web.

13. The invention in accordance with claim 8 wherein said third feedingmeans is operable to feed two of the lengths of handle material in adirection transversely of the direction of feed of the first Web,cutting means are provided for severing the two lengths of handlematerial, and two of said forming means for forming a handle length intoa substantially U-shaped configuration with the legs of the U extendingin the direction of travel of the first web, said forming means beingoperable to interpose the legs of the U-shaped length between first saidmember and a reinforcing patch.

14. The invention in accordance with claim 13 wherein two of said secondweb feeding means are provided and two of said cutting means areassociated therewith for severing patches therefrom for producing apatch for each of the two handle lengths secured to the first web.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,194,125 7/1965 Davis 93353,202,064 8/ 1965 Kennedy 938 3,334,550 8/1967 Craig 938 FOREIGN PATENTS535,981 1/1957 Canada.

BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 9335

